Pleasure-railway.



BATBNTED APR. 30, 1907.

I R. HUNT.

PLEASURE RAILWAY. APPLICATION FILED D30. 16, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SH wi l weooao No. 852,184. PATENTED APR. 30, 19.07.

' I R. HUNT.

PLEASURE RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED DEG-16, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR veg. ,A/M J: R llzmol Mm wM/Lm a. 40%.

ATTORNEY No. 852,184. 1 PATENTED APR. 30, 1907. R. HUNT.

PLEASURE RAILWAY.

rum-non FILED DEO.16,19'06.

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PATBNTED APR. 30, 1907.

R. HUNT.

PLEASURE RAILWAY. APPLIOATIQN FILED D110. 15, 1906.

4 SHEETS'BHEBT 6.

fi z- ROLAND HUN TJEOF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLEASURE-RAILWAY- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907'.

Application filed December 15, 1906. Serial No. 347,961.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROLAND HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Pleasure-Railway, of which the foll wing is a specification.

This invention relates to pleasure or scenic railways, particularly of that class such as are used in parks, pleasure resorts, exhibitions and the like.

The objects of the invention are: First, to provide a new and improved car structure adapted to be safely operated 011 parallel disposed tracks. Second, to so arrange the scenery, mechanical and hydraulic effects as to convey the sensation and impression of passing under water-falls, through Whirlpools and the like, to the passengers on the cars. And, finally, to provide such mechanical and hydraulic means, combined with motive power and means for car haulage as will effectually perform their functions with economy in construction, maintenance and supervision. These objects are accomplished by, and the invention consists in, the combination of parts and-itheir novel arrangement, hereinafter fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1, shows a general, diagrammatic plan View of the entire invention. Fig. 2, is a sectional view taken on line (L*(L of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a sectional view taken on line bt of Fig. 1. Fig. 4, is a plan viewfof the rotatable car, showing the rack connection. Fig. 5, is an end view of the same. Fig. 6, is a side view of the car. Fig. 7, is a sectional view taken through the center line of the car and drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 8, is a plan view of the rotatable car, showing a modification in construction, and Fig-,9, islan end view of the same.

Starting from the platfornfA, the cars B, are manually moved-along the trackway 1, which runs along its entire length to the beginning of the curve 2, where the traction chain or cable C, is picked up, automatically conveying each car at a regular rate of speed, and at a predetermined distance from any other car either in advance or following; from the curve 2, the course of the track is practically straight and level, reliance being placed on the novelty and beauty of the scenery for much of the pleasure {after passing the curve 3, the return course is practically parallel, but hidden from view by intercepting scenery, while midway on the course, the cars are caused to pass partially under representations of over-hanging clifls and a fall of water so arranged as to give an effective illusion of a water-fall, from the effects of which the cars are protected by suitable transparent plates of glass 3, against and on the outer surface of which volumes of water are constantly pouring from thence and around the curve 5, from which the view of other tracks and platform is similarly obscured, the cars pass down a slight incline into a pool of water kept violently agitated in representation of a whirl-pool, as at 6. At this point the cars B, are caused to revolve, on their vertical axis, by means hereinafter fully described,' creating a strong illusion of the passage through an actual whirlpool, with cataracts on either side; passing from thence the cars are caused to ascend an incline, correspondingfltofthatlon the entrance sidc, turns the curve at 7, which is the central point in the complete course, and follow a return course through similar sinuosities and scenery at the bend 8, at the opposite end of the platform A, where the chain is automatically disengaged.

The entire course is intended to faithfully represent a trip along the banks of the N iagara river, including a passage behind the Falls, and through the rapids and a whirlpool below the Falls, and while much of the illusive and educational e'll'ccts depend upon the faithful depiction and portraiture of the scenery along the track-way, the efl'ect is heightened and made sensationally real and exhilarating, as well as pleasiilrable, by the novel combined mechanical and hydraulic devices employed. The said hydraulic devices consists of a powerful pump, or pumps 9 adapted to raise the spent water by means of suitable pipes, to form a miniature river, falling over the cli'll's at 4, in an unbroken sheet, backed by transparent plates protecting from moisture the riders in the passing cars below; from the foot of the Falls, the torrent enters the whirlpool 6, in a turbulent state and seeks its outlets at each end, forming a succession of cataracts or rapids until it disappears intosuitable subterranean inclosures from which it is again pumped.

Tractional energy to the cars is furnished by any preferred means, as an endless cable or chain, the same being provided, at regular intervals, with suitable projections adapted to connect with the devices attached to the cars. This cable or chain is supported by suitable guide sheaves positioned between the tracks, about the entire course; provision is made to convey motion to it from any pre ferred point, as at the pump station, so that one operator can control the entire mechanism. Obviously, other mechanism can be employed to propel the cars, as,for instance, an electric-motor attached to the car and means for reception of an electrical current as commonly employed. It will be noticed that this arrangement is such that it is not possible for collision to occur between adj acent cars as they are compelled to maintain their respective distances, also that, as there is no crossing of tracks or gravity drops, the course being practically level, there is little or no danger to the riders.

The cars B, preferably are of substantially circular form and may contain any number of seats, (indicated by the numeral 10) de sired; the platform 11, on which the seats rest, has directly below the gear 12, a rectangular plate 13, provided with axles 14, and 14 carrying the running wheels 16, the same being adapted to run smoothly on the track surface.

In place of using a smooth-faced wheel, as shown, I may prefer to substitute a flanged wheel, thus dispensing with the need of the guide wheels and their supports.

Depending from the plate 13, are the pedestals 17, carrying the guide wheels 18, adapted to normally run, free of contact, between the sides of the track-way, but in such manner that they will contact with the sides,

if the car is other than perfectly centraltherewith, as in going about a curve, or should the car have a tendency to deviate from the track perpendicularly; the platform 11 as before stated, rests upon and is connected to the spur gear 12, in such manner that if revolution be imparted to the gear that the platform is likewise caused to rotate, both being rotatably connected to the plate 13.

Returning to the track-way at 6, within the representation of a whirl-pool, arranged at a suitable height and rigidly connected to the track-side, are sections of racks, 24, and 25, each being so located with reference to passing cars that the gear 12, will engage therewith, and be caused to revolve during the continuance of the engagement.

In addition to the rack, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, I may make use of a separate set of racks 24 and 25 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, adapted to engage with the gear 12, the same being so positioned and arranged as to cause the cars to revolve at a different rate of speed. In case where racks 24 and 25, are used the teeth are omitted on the racks 24 and 25, for such distance as are covered by the racks 24 and 25, the resulting action being that the car is revolved at a certain rate of velocity during the contact of the racks 24 and 25, with the gear 12, and at a higher rate of speed during the contact of the racks 24, and 25 with the gear 12*, slowing again as it drops from the one to the other, the said action greatly enhancing the sensation of passing through a whirl-pool, the center of which is presumed to rotate at a higher speed than that at its periphery.

From the front end of the plate 13 on the lower side is the bracket 19, carrying the gripping fork 20, in such manner that it can be raised vertically from engagement with the traction chain or cable, or, at will, be lowered to engage with it; the fork 20, is pivotally connected to the lever 21, fulcrumed at 22, adapted to contact with and be operated by, automatically, the cam faced projection 26, attached near the edge of the platform 1, in such manner as to raise the gripping fork 20, when the car comes around the curve or bend 8. It is evident that the said disengaging means may be located at any preferred point along the trackway, should reason for such stoppage of cars exist. It is equally evident that the cars may be caused to revolve at any point along the track, by the positioning ofintersecting racks as well at at the whirl-pools. I may also arrange seats at either end of the rectangular plate 13, adjacent to the rotative carriage mounted thereon, and in other ways modify the design as shown in the drawings without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is z- 1. The combination with a vehicle, a trackway therefor, and means for propulsion thereto, of a rotatable carriage mounted on said vehicle, a plurality of seats therein, a spur gear connected to the carriage and fixed racks arranged at intervals adjacent to the said track-way and operatable with relation to the said gear, all substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a track-way, vehicle and means for operating the same along the track-way, of a circular superstructure, mounted on the vehicle, spur gears combined therewith and a plurality of racks, so disposed along the said track-way as to come into operative engagement with the said spur gears, all substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a track-way, a truck movable thereon, a platform supported by the truck, a rotatable carriage provided with seats mounted on the platform, stationary seats at each end of the platform, means name to this specification in the presence of to impart lateral motion to the platform, two subscribing Witnesses.

along the said track-Way and means to rotate ROLAND HUNT the carriage on its vertical axis at predeter- 5 mined points and at different rates of Veloc- Witnesses:

ity, all substantially as shown and described. "MALCOLM HENRY,

In testimony whereof I have signed my WALTER S. BOWLING. 

